<ARTICLE> UT
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                 PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                     444,639
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         67,045
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                      102,713
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  1,547
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                615,944
<COMMON>                                        5,848
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                     102,817
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            51,433
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                160,098
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          35,000
<PREFERRED>                                     2,224
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                          178,003
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             28,600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                           0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   8,876
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                         0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                    0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                203,143
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                 615,944
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                     235,006
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            7,113
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    201,633
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                    208,746
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        26,260
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 26,260
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       13,544
<NET-INCOME>                                   12,716
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     1,330
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  11,386
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       11,475
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      11,297
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         31,905
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    4.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    4.87